First Up for Obama – How About Missile Defense?

After months of vigorous campaigning, promises of change and a platform built on redistribution of wealth, healthcare for all, fixing the economy and better education, one might think that President-elect Barack Obama will have to think hard about what he’ll tackle first among his populist agenda (and how he’ll do it without any money). It seems, however, that those domestic issues may not be first on the list after all, as the Russians may have made the choice for him by indicating their hope for constructive talks about U.S. European missile defense systems with the to-be-inaugurated president. Russia, after announcing the testing of missiles near Poland last week, is also floating suggestions to the new administration before it even gets on its feet. In the latest news, a Russian deputy foreign minister noted that Moscow would no deploy tactical missiles near Poland if the U.S. will end plans to erect missile defense systems in Europe.

For his part, Obama has stated in the past that he feels that the missile defense systems must be "pragmatic and cost-effective." He has also noted that until the systems can be proven effective they should not divert any resources from more pressing issues. Noting Obama’s past comments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted, "We have turned our attention to those positions which Barack Obama published on his site. They inspire a hope that we will be able to tackle these issues on a more constructive basis."

Meanwhile, the European Union apparently has reacted with shock at the Russian threat to deploy Iskander tactical missiles in the Kaliningrad region. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko pointed out, however, that the EU "should not have pretended they are bewildered that Russian would take relevant retaliatory steps, because the U.S. plans undermine strategic potential, which is a basis for global security." The Russian ministers made it clear that if the U.S. agrees to halt missile defense in Europe, they will most definitely stop any missile deployment. Regardless, it looks like Obama’s foreign policy experience – or lack thereof - will come into play from the first day of his new administration.